Facebook U-turns on beheading video

Facebook has changed its policies regarding violent video content again in a row over a video showing a woman being decapitated.

Facebook had ignited a storm when it refused to remove a video showing a masked individual decapitating a live woman, despite multiple complaints over the nature of the content. One of the complainants was the Australian police force.

As the story became more widespread, Facebook made changes so that a content warning was shown on the video, and said it would move to make users more aware of the nature of questionable violent content.

However, that wasn't enough to satisfy critics, including British Prime Minister David Cameron.

"It's irresponsible of Facebook to post beheading videos, especially without a warning. They must explain their actions to worried parents," Cameron tweeted. Of course, Facebook didn't "post" the content itself as the tweet suggests, but when made aware of it being available on its site, it certainly was Facebook's problem then.

Other critics questioned why its OK to post an extreme video showing a vile act of murder in the real world, and yet a picture of a woman with fully exposed breasts - non-violent imagery of body parts possessed by roughly half the human race - would be removed upon receipt of a complaint.

In the end, Facebook removed the video and has pledged to take a more comprehensive look at the context of violent videos posted in the future.

"First, when we review content that is reported to us, we will take a more holistic look at the context surrounding a violent image or video, and will remove content that celebrates violence. Second, we will consider whether the person posting the content is sharing it responsibly, such as accompanying the video or image with a warning and sharing it with an age-appropriate audience. Based on these enhanced standards, we have re-examined recent reports of graphic content and have concluded that this content improperly and irresponsibly glorifies violence. For this reason, we have removed it."

Still, Facebook does make a good point about some graphic content that you can find on its service, such as videos documenting terrible human rights abuses, acts of terrorism, and so on. These videos are posted to raise awareness to real world events and may be of genuine public concern. Posters of such material typically condemn the content shown.

Facebook's challenge now is to identify the reason for the sharing of such material - if it is there for sadistic pleasure or to celebrate violence, then it will be removed.

i didnt see the beheading video but i did see 1 that was bad,was some middle eastern country where people would slice there own backs in front of a crowd with a machette and had half there back hanging of and had to be taken away by ambulance, apparently they were soldiers and they had to punish themselvs for losing in battle.

custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.

There's a part of me that thinks (adult) people should see what goes on in places in this world & that the extreme suffering of others should not be censored away completely & treated like it never happened or happens.
Equally it seems to me that Facebook, as it has so many kids on it, is about as far from a suitable place for it as I can imagine.

I remember as a kid seeing the colour footage of South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan summarily execute & shoot a Viet Kong prisoner in the head, it shocked me deeply at the time but I do not think it caused anything but a positive outcome in the end.
War, fighting & killing became much more real & less a fun (in my kids mind) 'game' without consequence or human tragedy.

Those that obsess about these things might be twisted by them but I do not believe that applies to many.

Originally posted by Interestx: There's a part of me that thinks (adult) people should see what goes on in places in this world & that the extreme suffering of others should not be censored away completely & treated like it never happened or happens.
Equally it seems to me that Facebook, as it has so many kids on it, is about as far from a suitable place for it as I can imagine.

I remember as a kid seeing the colour footage of South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan summarily execute & shoot a Viet Kong prisoner in the head, it shocked me deeply at the time but I do not think it caused anything but a positive outcome in the end.
War, fighting & killing became much more real & less a fun (in my kids mind) 'game' without consequence or human tragedy.

Those that obsess about these things might be twisted by them but I do not believe that applies to many.

I do think they should be an 'adults only' thing tho.

1 of the issues with facebook is its 16 and older only but people sign up as young as 10 and don't bother lying about there age and facebook doesn't actually do anything about it.

custom built gaming pc from early 2010,ps2 with 15 games all original,ps3 500gbs with 5 games all original,yamaha amp and 5.1channel surround sound speakers,46inch sony lcd smart tv.